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Demographics

Demographics is the study of statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it. Demographic data of current population surveys includes density, spatial distribution, age, race, gender, income level, educational attainment, location, and homeownership.

One of the major sources in the United States is the national census. The Constitution mandates a survey be conducted every 10 years; the first federal census occurred in 1790. Census information expanded in the 19th century to include an economic census of manufactures and agriculture, eventually including wholesale, retail, and service establishments. A third type of census is a census of governments.

Statistical data is valuable on many levels. The Constitution mandated a count of the population in order to determine the number of legislators for each state in the House of Representatives, but the government also uses this information to develop policies and determine how to distribute federal monies to the states. U.S. census data is often used to forecast economic patterns and population growth to better manage expenditures. Socioeconomic data is also important to businesses, who use the information to learn more about their current and potential customers as part of their market research.

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Demographics Resources

Gale provides sources that offer demographical data and demographic research, including databases and eBooks.

Databases

Gale databases offer public libraries population insights to better understand their community.

Gale eBooks

Gale offers a variety of eBooks covering a wide range of topics, including economics, socioeconomics, demography, demographic trends, demographic transition, the U.S. Census Bureau, sociology, China, migration, and more. Users can add Gale eBooks to a customized collection and cross-search to pinpoint relevant content. Workflow tools help users easily share, save, and download content.

  • The American Marketplace: Demographics and Spending Patterns, 14th Edition

    The American Marketplace: Demographics and Spending Patterns, 14th Edition

    New Strategist Publications | 2018 | ISBN-13: 9781937737504

    This title draws on scores of government sources to give you a population profile of the United States in one handy volume. Its hundreds of tables are organized into multiple chapters covering attitudes, education, health, housing, income, labor force, living arrangements, population, spending, time use, and wealth.

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  • Best Customers: Demographics of Consumer Demand, 12th Edition

    Best Customers: Demographics of Consumer Demand, 12th Edition

    New Strategist Publications | 2017 | ISBN-13: 9781937737412

    Find out how the American marketplace has been transformed by the Great Recession in the new 12th edition of Best Customers: Demographics of Consumer Demand, with all-important spending data. This work provides a unique look at who the best and biggest customers are for hundreds of individual products and services. It is intended for marketers, advertisers, small businesses, large corporations, entrepreneurs, consultants, business students, and the libraries that serve them. It’s a one-of-a-kind resource for those who need to understand the dynamics of the American marketplace.

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  • Demographics of the U.S.: Trends and Projections, 5th Edition

    Demographics of the U.S.: Trends and Projections, 5th Edition

    New Strategist Publications | 2018 | ISBN-13: 9781937737535

    Details the socioeconomic indicators of the last half of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st. It includes comprehensive coverage of historical statistics, including single-year data on many topics such as school enrollment, SAT scores, hospital admissions, employment status of men and women, living arrangements of children, marital status, and geographic mobility.

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  • The Puzzle of the American Economy: How Changing Demographics Will Affect Our Future and Influence Our Politics, 1st Edition

    The Puzzle of the American Economy: How Changing Demographics Will Affect Our Future and Influence Our Politics, 1st Edition

    Praeger | 2017 | ISBN-13: 9781440853111

    This title explains how sweeping demographic changes have resulted in the ineffectiveness of recent monetary and fiscal policies, and it identifies corrective actions to reverse the long-term effects of income inequality, declining median income, low economic growth, and widespread government deficits in the United States.

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  • Upside: Profiting from the Profound Demographic Shifts Ahead, 1st Edition

    Upside: Profiting from the Profound Demographic Shifts Ahead, 1st Edition

    AMACOM | 2017 | ISBN-13: 9780814434703

    Demographics not only define who we are, where we live, and how our numbers change, but—for those who can read beyond the raw figures—they open up hidden business opportunities that lie ahead. What will happen when retiring boomers free up jobs? How will Generation Y alter housing and transportation? Which states will have the most dynamic workforces? Will American manufacturing rebound as Asia’s population boom stalls? This book puts this powerful-yet-little-understood science to work finding answers. Demographer Kenneth Gronbach synthesizes reams of data to show how generations impact markets and economies, and how to target economic growth. As waves of people are born and age, fortunes and futures are determined. Whether you’re an investor, marketer executive, or entrepreneur, this guide helps you spot the potential for profits in ever-shifting population dynamics.

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Resources to Boost Your Research

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